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GroundUp reports that two teachers’ unions have accepted the government’s revised 3% wage increase offer to public servants. The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and the National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA (Naptosa) have both accepted.
“It’s not what we wanted at all, we are not happy, but our members have made it clear that we must sign the offer. It’s better than getting nothing,” said Sadtu’s Nomusa Cembi. He indicated that Sadtu would not join a strike on the issue. Naptosa’s Basil Manuel said that he felt the unions had reached the end of the road with the wage negotiations. “Our members agree that this 3% wage increase is an insult, but we also feel like we cannot get more. Our members also made it clear that they will not go on strike. Learners have already been seriously affected by the Covid pandemic, so going on industrial action just before the final school exams would be very selfish. We will not negotiate for more, we are signing the offer,” Manuel indicated. The negotiations with government deadlocked over four weeks ago and many unions have vowed to go on strike. The government is offering a 3% pensionable increase across the board, and the continuation of the current cash allowance of R1,000 at all salary levels. Some other public service unions, including Popcru and Nupsaw, have rejected the 3% offer and have threatened to go on strike. The Public Servants Association (PSA) said it rejected the wage offer as it did not take into account the rising cost of living. If nothing changed, the union said it would strike next week.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Gilili at GroundUp
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page